The challenge Remco Evenepoel became for Patrick Lefevere: "I have always tried not to build a team around one rider"
Cycling
Patrick Lefevere has stepped aside from being the manager of Soudal - Quick-Step after 21 years on the job, now taken by Jurgen Foré. The Belgian will of course continue to be in the sidelines of the team working or being part of the management in some way.
"I had a very warm reaction when I told the riders. They all said that I will continue to come. Maybe, but not in the way that some expect," Lefevere said in words to Het Nieuwsblad. He has not said exactly in what way that will be, but could likely be in touch with sponsors or as an advisor to the management, after two decades of experience in one of cycling's top teams.
He does say however what he won't be doing: "I'm not going to keep walking around on the sidelines like a pathetic little guy or wave to everyone at the start. Jurgen does ask for my advice, but I'm not going to stay around as a kind of godfather and tell the mechanics or the caretakers about how things used to be better. Then I would tackle him without the ball, and that's not my style. Succeeding me is not a gift, and I'm happy to step aside."
Lefevere has led a team that for most of it's history had some of the very best sprinters, time-trialists and classics specialists in the field. In the 2020's, it was presented with a new challenge in the form of Remco Evenepoel, a rider who ultimately developed into a top stage-racer and Grand Tour winner.
With limited budget and the lack of a strong base (when comparing to today's current teams) the team had tough choices to make when building it's roster in recent seasons, as the team could not let go of the terrains that have earned them so many wins over the decades, but had a new type of rider to support. "I have always tried not to build a team around one rider, but you can't ignore the fact that he is currently the man of the team that we try to support in every possible way."
Up to now, successfully, and Evenepoel is just off his best season ever that includes a world time-trial title, double Olympic champion and podium at the Tour de France. Despite not being quite at the level of UAE Team Emirates and Team Visma | Lease a Bike, Lefevere certainly believes the team can be at that high of a level: "I don't think we should be inferior to anyone. I say that in all modesty, I don't have a thick neck. The Dutch are better marketers and put it in a nicer package, but we West Flemish, we do it."
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Still better than having sprouts with your festive dinner 😋 pic.twitter.com/lO8JUaH1HI
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) December 29, 2024
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